The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-19
SIGHTS SEEN IN CUBA.
Notes of an Observer Who Accompanied
the Senatorial Party.


the Senatorial Party.
Upon the second day of our stay in
Havana the senators We're invited to the
home OF the captain general. the invita-
ton being sent through the American
consul. Gen Williams. In accordance
with the invitation. the party of dis
tieuidns yiajeros Americanos" took car
riages about midday for the home of the
great diguitary in the suburbs.
We made n funny string of dilapidated
victorias, multitudinOusly patched and
mended, and measly little horses, which,
in al pcarance, beat the mule in sOTTow-
full abstraction and utter hOpelessness.
We went in hclter SHELTER way up the
Prado, last the Campo Marie, and out
the Pslscu Tacun to the noted gardens and
country house of the Spanish ruler
In thr tropical gardens are worlds of
frtI..s and Vegetables. many of which we
never $40 in the north. Why, to see
them oUC, leaves YOUR mouth a little like
that 81 q its1-rv dog cycling forbidden
bone. IN l's, e.1Ile gardens there may
be Ctco-'.-s- dates. lemons, oranges,
linz. .5it.=- zspOtaS, mammecs,
pomecT-.actt=s. bread fruit, bananas, tam
arinfl5. pine apples, mangoes, alligator
pears, tlr apples, grape fruit, guava,
cus-ar.' s.a1les, vans, rose apples, citrons.
and an Isl an endless list.
IT. ,-".i.men were negroes and few
coOlie-. a,lves or ex-slaves, and some
were nearly naked and all naked TO the
W. {. N the workshops / again OBJ
scr-..l q curious thing, and that is the
ten, ICY to make all motions away from
the body. They sharpen pencils, white,
hew and saw never inward or toward
the body. 1t looks odd to see them saw
with the stick fixed in position and the
ssv hc!d perpendicular in front Of it
with it, back to the body, and thus raised
up and down. When person wishes to
bec.zon another, he holds up his hand
with palm outward, gives "A sharp
s-p-s-s-t' which is the universal haiIing
signal in Cuba, and then waves his hand
outwartily in exactly the opposite motion
To what we would make.
While we gathered at the stables the
captain generals daughter had her splen-
did saddle horse, of pure Andalusian
brought out and shown off for us. while
a groom chung To him desperately to keep
him down out of the clouds.
Finally we returned to the house and
proceeded informally to the dining room,
where ali We're seated around a single
long table except the captain general
himself, who remained standing behind
his daughters chair during the meal.
Our party was a GOOD deal embarrassed
by this. for. as we Just filled the chairs,
it looked as though we had crowded out
our exalted host.
We then concluded that it was through
point of etiquette or ceremony that he
did not sit at table with us. So anxious
We're we that one of our ladies asked his
daughter, and she explained that at such
affairs her father rarely seated himself.
He liked to stand and overlook the table,
and see that the servants neglected no
one He never ate at such entertain
ments, as he has a weak stomach for in
hulgenccs, and takes only very plain and
simple food regularly.
The servants were in gorgeous livery;
the wine was superb, so that some of the
cOnnOisseurs of our party felt their eyes
sparkle. and the refreshments simple in
character and plentiful.
When it came to the champagne the
captain general made a speech. which
was translated by the consul general. and
aIr. Sherman responded. the consul gen
eral again translating. and all drank
standing. The speeches We're the usual
VI
and good wishes, but the consul general
told us afterwar,l that thecaptain general
spoke with more warmth and evident
sincerity than was usual with HIM on
such occasions.
Before we left o. invitation was gwen
| to come again in the evening, when there
/ would be music and dancing. y large
| number of our party accepted, and our
/ young ladies were much admired, and
/ made n great Impression. The Spaniar,ls
4 were greatly pleased at the ladies coming
/ and dancing, and our young man slS wed
! some of the sonOTitas a thing or two in
/ waltzing.
The more WE saw Of Cuban women the
more unquaIifiedly we acknowledged
their wonderful beauty. We hardly saw
q homely woman in Havana. and we saw
some beautiful beyond description
/ There Is u sameness about the beauty
that might in the collective grow LITTLE
/ Inonutonous. hut an individual instancC
is incompatible.
Even if the face is not otherwise fins
the lJistrotIs ewes can light up and giorify
it, and the ewes of the Cuban women ar,
| like. star. of the summer night and the
! velvety black masses of hair bound about
their heads and thrust through with {
| gold bolkin. after custom iTnmCmorlal Ii
old Spain. truly wonan's crown of glory
The sensuo,ls perfection Of their forms in
soft and graceful outlines. the witchery
OF the dark ewes and alluriug lips full
ard rich, the sly grace Of the fan OF
/ cigarette. the dainty archel feet, witt
gold embroidered Hack stockings. anu
that most beautiful IF all ornaments fol
the head. the Elaritilla, have often beeI
celebrated II song and story atid poetry
but they never Tec, ivcd any more lr;lis'
or s,lrui1a,.cH than they deserved
| Cuba Cor. Cilc.aHdti Commercial Ga
Zette-
The Foreign secrrtary.